I took advantage of Colorado’s early voting and got myself down to the court house last Friday. I was in the middle of making No Pudge Brownies when I realized, shit, I need to get out there today and not bother with the ceremony of voting on Nov. 2. So I left, brownies mixed and ready to go and the oven still set at 360, figuring it would take me only about ten minutes. I rode my bike the three blocks to the court house with my voting card and my id. POW! I was met with a huge line. I had to sign my card in the presence of a little old lady before I could even get in the voting line. After waiting in the first line I called and left a message for Josh: Put the brownies in the fridge and turn off the stove, I’m gonna be here a while. It took me a full hour to get to the ballot booth. I was so neurotic and jumpy by than I actually had a moment of: Wait, did I fill this out right? What if I accidently filled out the Bush box instead of the Kerry box…For senate, I voted for Salazaar over the unfamous, wealthy, beer mongor, Pete Coors. I also voted against the well-known, local, hispanic turned white, Mayor Martinez in favor of his lesser known democratic competitor. I voted for a cigarrette tax increase, (pretty steep, 60 additional cents per pack, but the taxes go to anti-smoking campaigns). I waffled when it came to whether or not Judge so-and-so should remain another term, I don’t know who any of these guys are….and there are six up for reinstatment.
All and all I did my part and got my “I voted” sticker. I must say that CO is having RECORD TURN OUT at the polls. My hour wait confirms this. There were all sorts of people there, from punk rockers to farmers to suburban moms and local business owners. Everyone was very jovial despite the long wait. People were walking around wearing Halloween costumes and chatting with total strangers. Nobody started chanting: “Four More Years!” Which was my initial fear standing in line with a bunch of Colorado voters. Nobody started pushing their personal agenda or cut in line or even muttered about the various tax increase initiatives on the ballot.
Get out there, everyone! It’s time for a change…